Chris Mullen, Art and Design Educator and Collector, Dies at 81

Chris Mullen, a prominent figure in the realm of art and design education, died at the age of 81. His teaching career commenced in 1972 at Norwich School of Art, where he became known for his dynamic lectures in liberal studies within a vocational design program. In 1989, he transitioned to the University of Brighton as a senior lecturer, working alongside John Vernon Lord and George Hardie to develop an MA focused on narrative illustration and editorial design. Mullen was also a passionate collector of books, magazines, and printed materials related to visual communication, amassing a vast library that he generously shared with students. His commitment to enhancing the integration of contextual studies with studio practice significantly influenced educational approaches in the discipline. He held the position of research supervisor for a studio-based PhD program from 1995 until his retirement in 2005.